George Natembeya Caught On Camera Teasing Kiambu County At Devolution Conference: "Huko Ni Manyungu Tu"

• Kiambu governor Kimani Wamatangi expressed gratitude after President William Ruto visited the county's exhibition booth at the devolution conference
• However, while interacting with his media team, George Natembeya claimed that Kiambu's exhibition booth couldn't match that of Trans Nzoia
• Later, Raila Odinga received a rousing reception at the Trans Nzoia county's exhibition stall, where he enjoyed a cob of maize along with George Natembeya

Uasin Gishu - Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya is among the delegates gracing the ongoing biennial devolution conference happening at the Eldoret Sports Club.

However, on Thursday, August 17, Natembeya was caught on camera teasing the Kiambu government county.

While interacting with his media team led by Gerald Bwisa, the first-time governor claimed that Kiambu's exhibition booth couldn't match that of Trans Nzoia.

"Unaona vile stand yetu imeng'ara? Tumetisha watu kweli kweli. Tukienda kwa hiyo ya Kiambu yenye wanatutishia tutapata tu labda ni manyungu ndio zimejaa huko na muratina. (Have you seen how our exhibition is looking good? We have really scared others. If you go to that of Kiambu all you will find there are pots and local brew,)" Natembeya bragged.

Earlier, Kiambu governor Kimani Wamatangi expressed gratitude after President William Ruto, who officially opened the conference, visited the county's exhibition booth.

"H.E President William Ruto and and Council of Governors (CoG) Chairperson Anne Waiguru at the County Government of Kiambu's exhibition booth, during the official opening of the 8th Annual Devolution Conference at Eldoret Sports Club in Uasin Gishu County," Wamatangi tweeted.

What Raila said at the devolution conference

In a related story, TUKO.co.ke reported that the event that began on Tuesday, August 15, has seen high-profile guest speakers like US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman, President Ruto, and Opposition leader Raila Odinga address governors, political leaders and stakeholders from across the 47 devolved units and even across the border.

Whereas Ruto and Whitman addressed the conference on Wednesday, August 16, Raila delivered his keynote speech to the county chiefs and other stakeholders on Thursday, August 17, with his remarks exciting and rubbing the wrong way leaders from across the political divide.

Raila boldly tore into Whitman's and Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii aka Koti Moja's remarks castigating maandamano but lauded county leadership for embracing devolution, a key component of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 that he championed.

How unique was Trans Nzoia exhibition stall

As he was taken around county stands with Council of Governors Chair Anne Waiguru, Raila received a rousing reception at the Trans Nzoia county's exhibition stall, where he enjoyed a cob of maize along with Governor George Natembeya.

In a video shared by Natembeya on TikTok, participants were elated as Raila picked a cob of maize and began chewing on the grain.

The excited participants urged Natembeya and other county staff to add Baba, as Raila is popularly known, another cob of boiled maize.

Why Trans Nzoia is Kenya's food basket

Natembeya also showed his side of servant leadership by serving boiled maize to participants who visited the stand.

Boiled maize, casually referred to as mchemsho is a common delicacy in Trans Nzoia and other corn-growing regions.

Trans Nzoia is a key producer of maize in the country and along with several other North Rift region counties, is referred to as the bread basket or grain basket of Kenya.

The county produces over five million bags of maize from approximately 100,000 hectares of land annually, as reported by The Standard.